Launched Through: Napalm Information
Launched Date: July fifth, 2024
Style: Symphonic Steel
Hyperlinks: https://www.visionsofatlantis.at/
Line Up:
Clementine Delauney – Vocals
Michele Guaitoli – Vocals
Christian Douscha – Guitars
Herbert Glos – Bass
Thomas Caser – Drums
Tracklist:
1. To The ones Who Make a choice to Combat
2. Land of the Unfastened
3. Monsters
4. This night I’m Alive
5. Armada
6. The Useless of the Sea
7. Ashes to the Sea
8. Hellfire
9. Collide
10. Magic of the Evening
11. Underwater
12. The place the Sky and Ocean Mix
For the previous six years and extra, Austrian symphonic steel band Visions of Atlantis had been on a gentle upward thrust, beginning with The Deep & the Darkish, which represented reasonably of a brand new starting for the band, as virtually their whole lineup used to be switched up without delay, excluding longtime drummer Thomas Caser. That album confirmed the band taking the entirety that they had been prior to and in some way taking it a number of steps ahead, with the brand new lineup generating simply their very best album as much as that time. Skip forward six years, and the band has since unleashed two extra improbable albums with Wanderers and Pirates, the latter of which, specifically, felt like a fairly large step ahead. Now, with the lately launched follow-up, Pirates II – Armada, the band has as soon as once more stepped up their recreation even additional and delivered their very best paintings to this point, making improvements to upon its already improbable predecessor!
Now not a lot has modified between albums, unsurprisingly. The lineup has remained utterly unchanged since Wanderers, and so they took simply over two future years out with a brand new album, obviously having a look to stay their momentum going. Enthusiasts of VoA must know precisely what to anticipate right here, because the band’s cinematic, melodic, and catchy vocal-driven emblem of symphonic steel is as intact as ever, and everyone seems to be in most sensible shape, as at all times. Symphonic parts and vocals are obviously the principle riding forces in the back of maximum tracks, as there’s an epic, cinematic really feel all through. Whilst there are bursts of heaviness to be discovered, it’s an overly melodic album general, with some improbable choruses and vocal melodies. In comparison to the former album, there’s most likely just a little much less energy steel, because the album is as an alternative relatively various and has a excellent combine of various types of tracks, with quite a few mid-tempo, epic symphonic steel, a few extra folk-infused tracks, a few ballads, and a few massive, epic-length tracks that pass all out and ship just a little of the entirety. The second one part is just a little slower-paced basically and it has the 3 softest tracks at the album inside a five-track block. Then again, the entirety could be very effectively written and carried out, and all of it flows in combination completely, so in contrast to the former album, the standard by no means suffers even a slight dropoff at any level.
As same old, whilst it’s an overly melodic, very vocal-driven album, the musicians all do a perfect process as effectively. Guitarist Christian Douscha is in large part restrained for a big length of maximum tracks, most commonly turning in forged rhythm guitar paintings within the background and a few subtly heavy riffs that play a secondary function to keys, vocals, and orchestration. Then again, he does shine with some heavy riffs and melodic leads from time to time, in particular at the name song, and his guitar solos are completely improbable. The rhythm segment could also be superb, with Thomas Caser specifically doing a perfect process of offering some great beats together with his drums and doing a pleasant process of alternating between other tempos, and the other percussion used on a few tracks additionally sounds improbable. Keys and symphonic parts are patently crucial right here, and sound nice as at all times, with the orchestration giving the track an epic, cinematic really feel and it really works similarly effectively on extra intense, upbeat tracks because it does on slower, extra at ease tracks. Vocalists Clémentine Delauney and Michele Guaitoli also are improbable, with Delauney taking lead all through the vast majority of the album and turning in easy, emotional vocals, whilst Guaitoli is in large part utilized in quick bursts all through verses and likely giant moments, sounding extra animated and intense, whilst additionally turning in some unusually comfortable and easy vocals on a few tracks. Either one of them are in most sensible shape and paintings in combination completely, as they did at the ultimate couple of albums. Manufacturing could also be improbable and well-balanced, as anticipated.
The only space the place the band has advanced probably the most in recent times has been their songwriting, and that when once more continues with Armada, as each and every music is improbable in its personal proper, and so they all glide in combination seamlessly, serving to make it a surprisingly a laugh and addicting album to hear time and again. There’s a standard intro song, although it’s extra enticing than same old, because it has some cinematic orchestration, in addition to some comfortable vocals from Delauney, which assist set the tone for the remainder of the album. The primary complete song is “The Land of the Unfastened,” which opens up with some atmospheric keys and orchestration, prior to the drums pass complete pace forward and a few heavy guitar paintings kicks in. The outlet verse has just a little of a forestall/get started really feel to it, slowing down and taking one of the heaviness away for short classes, then bringing it again and dashing up, and that is executed relatively successfully. The refrain could be very epic, with massive vocal melodies, epic choir vocals, and symphonic preparations. The primary run-through remains mid-paced all through, however on next runs, it hurries up midway by way of and turns into much more epic. The second one verse has some intense vocals from Guaitoli, which is without doubt one of the highlights of the song, together with an overly melodic guitar solo in opposition to the tip, adopted up through an incredible reprise of the intro song. General, it’s an incredible opener, and one of the crucial very best tracks at the album.
VoA had been recognized to incorporate some very catchy, extra radio-friendly tracks once in a while, and one of the crucial very best examples of this is “Monsters,” a gentle, catchy, and really melodic symphonic steel song with some very catchy and upbeat keyboard melodies, epic symphonic preparations, and a large center of attention on vocals, with the refrain specifically being extremely melodic and catchy. Guaitoli displays as much as lead the second one verse and he sounds nice as at all times, however the song is in large part ruled through Delauney, who’s a great are compatible for the song, because it has reasonably of a contemporary Nightwish really feel to it, which fits her voice really well. Subsequent is without doubt one of the extra folk-infused tracks, “This night I’m Alive,” which is led through some somewhat exotic percussion, giving the song a a laugh, unique beat. It additionally has some folks instrumentation, giving the track a singular taste, and it has an upbeat, reasonably playful vibe to it. The 2 leads change portions all through verses and each are superb, however Guaitoli specifically sings with just a little of additional grit and he suits in completely with the original beat of the song. The refrain is amazingly a laugh and catchy, keeping up the percussion, whilst changing into extra melodic, and it’s simply the spotlight of the song. There’s a pleasant guitar solo in the second one part, in addition to some extra very cool and unique-sounding folks parts. General, it’s an incredible song and any other non-public favourite.
The highlights stay coming with the name song, the quickest, heaviest, and maximum energy metal-influenced song at the album. Drums pass off at a frantic tempo all through, whilst Douscha delivers some heavy, robust guitar paintings, and the verses are a ton of a laugh, with Delauney main the primary and Guaitoli main the second one. The song has a ton of power, between the guitars, drums, vocals, and epic symphonic preparations. I particularly love the infectious “Jolly Roger!” chants all through the verses. The refrain is speedy, a laugh, and tremendous epic, in the best way a symphonic energy steel refrain must be, and I additionally love the heavier, extra technical guitar solo in opposition to the tip. General, it’s most likely my favourite song on all of the album. The primary of 2 7+ minute tracks is “The Useless of the Sea,” which begins off with mild instrumentation and a few of Guaitoli’s softest vocals, prior to the symphonic parts kick in for a longer instrumental intro, slowly adopted through some mild guitar paintings. The music takes some time to get going, however as soon as it does it strikes at a rather upbeat pace, with a pleasant mixture of epic symphonic preparations and somewhat subdued guitar paintings. Delauney leads the verses, sounding tremendous easy as at all times, however I additionally love how Guaitoli supplies some mild, very melodic vocals all through a relaxed, sluggish phase main into the refrain, which itself is going all out with drums, guitars, symphonic preparations, and epic vocals from each singers. Listening to the softer vocals from Guaitoli unfold all through the song is the particular spotlight, because it’s a pleasant alternate of tempo from his same old means, and he does a fantastic process, although clearly the entirety else in regards to the song could also be superb.
Following two intense and epic tracks, it is smart the band would calm issues down with the primary of 3 ballads, that being “Ashes to the Sea.” It’s a gentle, virtually fully orchestral song with little steel or rock parts of any type, as an alternative turning in an epic sound within the taste of a movie ranking, with sweeping orchestral preparations, together with improbable vocals from each leads. Delauney specifically is totally in her component all through an emotional, very gorgeous refrain the place her mild and emotional vocals truly get to polish. Issues get extra intense as soon as once more with “Hellfire,” which opens up with an epic orchestral intro collection, prior to heavy guitars and drums kick in and the song briefly choices up the tempo, transferring lovely briefly all through the verses, that have an upbeat, but irritating feeling, development as much as the heaviest refrain at the album. Talking of the refrain, it options some very chunky guitar paintings within the background, laying a pleasant backdrop for intense leads from Guaitoli and a few epic operatic vocals from Delauney, together with an epic “Burn, Burn, Burn!” chant. The instrumental segment specifically has some very chunky, alt-metal taste guitar paintings, main right into a melodic, but technically spectacular guitar solo.
The second one ballad is “Collide,” the heaviest of the 3, because it’s extra of an influence ballad, with some heavy however sluggish and somewhat subdued guitar paintings, accompanied early on through some somewhat great symphonic preparations, after which all through the second one verse there’s some very epic keyboards. The refrain is heavy and robust, however nonetheless very melodic, and each singers do a perfect process all through the song. The spotlight of the song is when the second one run-through of the refrain in an instant transitions into an epic guitar solo. The solo itself and the seamless transition are each actually improbable. Subsequent is any other folk-infused song, “Magic of the Evening,” which has a really nice folks melody initially, main right into a rather paced verse with some somewhat subdued guitar paintings. The verses are a laugh, however the refrain is the transparent spotlight, because it’s very a laugh, catchy, and melodic, and it has a pleasant combine of people and symphonic instrumentation to assist truly make it stand out. I additionally love the instrumental segment, which has extra of the folks parts, and the comfortable, cinematic-sounding bridge segment in opposition to the tip. The backing choral vocals all through the general run of the refrain are completely improbable.
One ultimate ballad comes within the type of “Underwater,” a pleasant piano ballad, which begins off very comfortable, with a fantastically sung, atmospheric opening verse pushed through Delauney’s voice and a piano. Symphonic parts creep in all through the primary run-through of the refrain, which could be very comfortable and wonderful. The song slowly and subtly provides in additional instrumentation because it strikes on, with the guitars now not totally kicking in till the second one run-through of the refrain, and from there Delauney begins making a song with extra energy, in the end development as much as an epic ultimate run-through of the refrain. Final out the album is any other 7+ minute song, “The place the Sky and Ocean Mix,” which alternates properly between comfortable, sluggish passages and speedy, heavier passages. Keys and symphonic parts cleared the path early on, although as soon as Guaitoli takes over some time into the primary verse, the guitar paintings turns into a lot heavier and the tempo choices up, main into an epic, cinematic refrain the place each singers shine and guitars and orchestration are each intense and on level. The second one verse begins out heavy with superb guitar paintings and robust vocals from Guaitoli, however it leads right into a comfortable, piano segment the place Delauney takes over, prior to transitioning again into the refrain. It’s an instance of the band now not simplest using each singers successfully but in addition doing a perfect process of alternating between comfortable and heavy passages. The instrumental segment is heavy and there’s an intense guitar solo, main into an epic bridge the place each vocalists get to polish, and that’s one of the crucial highlights of the song. General, it’s any other one in every of my favorites at the album, and it closes the album out completely.
4 albums into their present generation, Visions of Atlantis have totally mastered their sound, turning in their very best album to this point, and making the entirety appear easy in one of the simplest ways imaginable. Pirates II – Armada is without doubt one of the very best symphonic steel albums of the 12 months, with superb orchestration, superb guitar paintings when it kicks in, improbable vocals, and superb songwriting which manages to be extraordinarily various but in addition persistently entertaining and well-paced. Enthusiasts of the band are positive to like this album, because it feels just like the band has a complete take hold of of what they’re doing and so they’re obviously having a good time. Inexperienced persons searching for an epic symphonic steel album with improbable vocals and a few energy steel parts could be really well recommended to provide this album a shot, because it’s positive to be one of the crucial very best of its type launched in 2024.
Scores: 10/10
Written through: Travis Inexperienced
My International Thoughts – Team of workers Author
Travis Inexperienced is a Canadian primarily based author for My International Thoughts, with a specific interest for energy steel, in addition to an pastime steel in all its paperwork.
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